Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has showered praise on Shivam Dube amid the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. Dube returned with figures of 1-7 in a solitary over he bowled in the second T20I against the Kiwis at Raipur on Friday.

The medium pacer accounted for in-form Daryl Mitchell in the second game. Srikkanth highlighted that batters think Dube is easy to hit and then get out to him while trying to take the attack against him. Furthermore, Dube scored an impressive cameo of 36 runs off just 18 balls with the help of one four and three sixes after he was promoted in the batting order.

“I think Dube is a good bowler. Batters think he is easy to hit and then get out to him. They are using him well. He batted also really well, at a 200 strike rate,” Kris Srikkanth said on ‘Cheeky Cheeka’.

Srikkanth said the Indian spinners bowled well in the second game. While Chakravarthy returned with figures of 1-35 in his four overs, Yadav bagged 2-35 in his four overs.

“Even with the dew, our spinners bowled very well. They put the pressure in the middle overs. Santner played a brilliant knock and they reached 208.”

On the other hand, Ishan Kishan scored a blistering knock of 76 runs off just 32 balls to deliver the goods for the team. Srikkanth said Kishan single-handedly won the game for India.

“It was intelligent batting from Surya. Ishan was already scoring from the other end. It is actually Ishan who single-handedly won this game for India to be honest. He gave the win in the hands. I have never seen a knock like this. This is the differentiator. Batters like him will single-handedly win you two out of five games at least. He was dropped after scoring a double century. In all fairness, he has gone through a tough time. He has fought back very well and proven himself. He played a lively innings and is a lively character,” he said.

India has taken an unassailable lead of 3-0 in the series after winning the third game by eight wickets on Sunday.